We caught up with DA Shadow Minister for Health, Siviwe Gwarube, who has been relentlessly travelling around the country, visiting rural hospitals to make sure that where there are issues with their ability to respond to the coronavirus, they are reported and plans of action are devised. Certainly not a job for the faint hearted.

What is the average day on the road doing oversight like?

Because I have been targeting the rural parts of our country that don’t get the usual fanfare of ministerial visits and media coverage, I would often have to fly into the nearest city the night before. An example of this is when I visited the Alfred Nzo District in the Eastern Cape. I stayed in Durban the night before and travelled very early in the morning to Bizana – the rural town in the Eastern Cape. 

I usually meet up with the local leadership (councillors, Health Shadow MEC and Constituency Head) for a quick briefing about the most critical issues from their points of view. This helps me place the research and preparation I have done into context. 

I would ordinarily schedule two visits to two different facilities in consultation with the province. This would entail a meeting with the facility management; a walkabout and engagement with the staff and questions about the facilities. 

Once the oversight visits are done, I discuss with the province about what needs to be done to escalate issues we found at those visits. Issues are either national or provincial competencies and its key that we decide on action steps before the day is done. 

After all visits of the day are done, the long trip back to the airport will begin, intercepted by radio interviews along the way. The day ends late at night, likely in a hotel room. 

The reality is that our health system is broken. And has been for decades. Every challenge I encountered along the way highlighted that very issue.

Tell us a bit about the idea behind the oversight visits? Are there particular things you’re concerned about that are motivating your intense itinerary? 

The health system was shackled with the unenviable task of contending with a global pandemic while it has been broken for a while. Government committed to using the hard lockdown period to prepare our health system and ready it for the storm. However, it become clear from news reports and anecdotal evidence that that wasn’t done. The bigger provinces were discussed at length while the smaller and rural provinces were left out of the conversation. It was important that I go and see for myself all the provincial hotspots and assess how the system was coping during the times of COVID-19. 

You have made some shocking discoveries during your visits, what would you say has been the theme throughout, anything that has stuck with you?

The healthcare crisis in South Africa was never brought on by COVID-19. Its problems were exacerbated by the pandemic. The reality is that our health system is broken. And has been for decades. Every challenge I encountered along the way highlighted that very issue. 

It was also incredibly moving to see hardworking health professionals dedicate their lives to saving others. Some work under difficult circumstances but they continue to show up. 

Challenges/ barriers/backlash that you have received while on these visits?

I frequently encounter massive push back from the executive in provinces and nationally in conducting oversight work. There is a misunderstanding about the role of members of parliament that requires them to see that services are being taken directly to the people of this country. There is arrogance that impedes MECs, HODs and Ministers from accepting where there are shortcomings and where urgent interventions are needed. But we must never tire. 

What can ordinary South Africans do to help?

South Africans must be intolerant of poor service delivery. They must also punish governments who don’t care to improve their lives in any material way by voting them out and convincing others to do the same.